What are everyone's opinions on having two different front seats (a racing seat for the driver seat)? Is this tacky or cool? I'm on the fence about it, because it really bothers me to lose the symmetry of the car, but I can't decide. The reason I ask is because I have an old Recaro from my friend's 1984 Ford Fiesta track car and I reaaallly love the way it feels on my bootay and the size of its side bolsters.

It's a little torn up from the years in a garage, but it's only superficial damage (none of the foam is damaged) so I would have it re-covered if I decided to go with it. So I have a few questions:
1) do you guys think I should use it
2) what color and material would you suggest I re-cover it with (I currently have the black checkered seats, silver checkered dash, and black colorline).

Here's some pictures I found online of the a similar seat. It's the exact same pattern, but it lacks that harness hole at the top:

 

Symmetry! If its a race car who cares about symmetry! but then again I am biased


as for what color... stick with something close to the rest of the interior if you want to run 1 single seat... even black seat would stand out against the other black seat because it is just so different... since you are going to custom it... i'd like to see the center in checkered cloth, the sides done in black cloth

 

hehe....pretty funny since most HPDE's and fundays require that you have both seats the same.

 

If you need it for autocross or track days, that's a legit purpose, go for it.

On the other hand, if you just like the way it looks, or hugs your bum... oh, other hand nothing... it's your car, do what you want. Right?

I like symmetry, myself. But I also know that I could never shoe-horn my wife in and out of a sport bucket seat like that on a day-to-day basis. She wouldn't hear of it (and she's actually pretty svelte). I would have to do two different seats if I was going to go for somthing like that. I would just try and re-apuhlster them to look alike.

 

i know i meant it as a joke

 

Really? That's interesting; I never knew that. I don't race or anything, but if schedule ever permits (which is probably won't, because I'm always slammed) I would like to eventually make it out to some of the local autocross club events around here. If this ruined my chances of that, I guess I would be kind of mad...but then again, I probably won't ever make it out anyway...

...and the decision is still up in the air...

 

Now see my understanding was harnesses had to be the same so if you had it setup for a 6point then both had to be 6 points (etc etc. for 5 points 3 points 4 points and brands) IF and only IF you have an instructor.
I thought seats were fair game.

Now it does give the "under construction" look w/ just one so doing them one at a time is a in my book.

 

The rules i have seen and read say seat too....but it could vary with track

 

Well I always thought it went by the posted rules of the sanctioning body responsible for the day. (NASA SCCA local track clubs)

 

yah...you follow those if its being hosted by them....and follow track rules on fun-days (or whatever your local track likes to call them)

 

All the clubs I have experience with say "similar restraints" for driver and instructor. So, if you have a 6-point belt using a seat with holes for the shoulder belts and sub belt, the instructor needs the same. It does not have to be the same seat.

But always check with the clubs you will / may be driving with to see what their rules are.